# Completely Lost in Translation
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-lost-in-translation/274224
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [November 11, 2004, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-lost-in-translation/274224 "2004-11-11T16:34:55Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)
#### Post date: [November 11, 2004, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-lost-in-translation/274224/1 "2004-11-11T16:34:55Z")
So for my own amusement I’ve been going to [FreeTranslation.com](http://www.freetranslation.com/) , pasting in well known song lyrics, translating them into a foreign language, and then retranslating them back into English. Since this is a free, web based service it can come back rather…different. For example:
From “The Joker” by Steve Miller I take the verse
You’re the cutest thing
That I ever did see
I really love your peaches
Want to shake your tree
Lovey-dovey, lovey-dovey, lovey-dovey all the time
Ooo-eee baby, I’ll sure show you a good time
Then translate it into French (why not?) When translated from the French back into English I get
You are the thing more darling Than I never saw
I really like your fishings Want to shake your tree
lovey-dovey, the lovey-dovey, the lovey-dovey the whole baby of times
ooo-eee, I will do the sure spectacle you a good time
What good ones can you come up with?
---
### Author:  [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)
#### Post date: [November 11, 2004, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-lost-in-translation/274224/2 "2004-11-11T16:37:20Z")
[I love doing this (and so do others!)](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=247014&highlight=babelfish+lyrics)
I’ll come back after lunch and have some fun!
---
### Author:  [@Ghanima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ghanima)
#### Post date: [November 11, 2004, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-lost-in-translation/274224/3 "2004-11-11T18:50:07Z")
Represent yourself in boat on a river,
with orange red trees and jams skies,
that someone calls you, answer rather slowly,
a girl with kaleidoscope eye.
Cellophanblumen of yellow and green,
jutting over your head highly.
You seek went the girl with the sun into its beäugt,
and it’s.
Lucy in the sky with diamonds
Now somewhere in the black hills of moutain of Dakota
lived over there a young boy a Raton Cleaner Rocky named.
And a day that his woman ran of with another guy.
Hit Rocky young in the eye didn Rocheux’t as that.
It I has dit’m gonna obtains this boy.
Therefore a day it walked in to the city
Reserved itself a piece in the local bar.
The Raton Cleaner rocky verified in his piece
Only to find Gideon’la Bible of s.
Rocky had come equipped with a rifle
to pull legs of his rival.
His rival that it seems had broken his dreams
in flying the girl of his luxurious one.
His name was Magill and she was called Lil
But everyone knew it as Nancy.
Because the world around is,
turns the me on.
Because the worlds around is
– Ah – love is old, love is new,
Love is everybody, is love you.
Because the wind high is,
blows the mine mind.
Because the wind high
– Ah is – love is old, love is new,
Love is everybody, is love you.
Because the heaven blue is,
makes the me cry.
Because the heaven blue
– Ah is – love is old, love is new,
Love is everybody, is love you.
---
### Author:  [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)
#### Post date: [November 11, 2004, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-lost-in-translation/274224/4 "2004-11-11T18:58:36Z")
D’abord me were afraid, j’étais petrified;
I m’ai continued to think could never not live without you beside my side.
Then j’ai so much last of nights
thinking how you m’avez hurts,
and I developed extremely,
and j’ai learned how to obtain length.
And thus you’re supports extra-atmospheric l’espace;
I just walked inside to find you here, with this sad glance on your face.
I should have changed this stupid lock;
I should have incited to you to leave your key,
if j’avais known for Juste one second
you’d would be again with l’embêtement me!
Continue now, go! Go out of the door,
turn right around now, since you’re not welcome more;
Weren’t you that with which tried to break me goodbye?
Did you think crusty the d’I’d?
Did you think yourselves I’d fix and die?
Not d’Oh, not I! I will survive,
as long as I can like, I know the alive stay d’I’ll;
I’ve obtained all my life to live,
and I’ve obtained all my love to give,
and I’ll survive - I will survive!
It took all the force that j’ai have not to fall of pieces
just, testing hard to repair the pieces of my broken heart;
and j’ai spent l’OH feeling right of so many nights afflicted for me.
J’avais l’habitude to cry, but now I hold my head to the top high,
and you see me, quelqu’un new.
I’m not which always connected to the top of the small person in l’amour with you!
And thus felts you like dropping itself inside
and you wait until just me is free,
but now I’m savin’ ; all my lovin’ ;
for quelqu’un who’s lovin’ ; I.
Continue now, go! Go out of the door,
turn right around now, since you’re not welcome more;
Weren’t you that with which tried to break me goodbye?
Did you think crusty the d’I’d?
Did you think yourselves I’d fix and die?
Not d’Oh, not I! I will survive,
as long as I can like, I know the alive stay d’I’ll;
I’ve obtained all my life to live,
and I’ve obtained all my love to give,
and I’ll survive - I will survive!
---
### Author:  [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)
#### Post date: [November 11, 2004, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-lost-in-translation/274224/5 "2004-11-11T19:04:41Z")
For some reason, “I should have incited you to leave your key” just tickles the hell out of me…
---
### Author:  [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)
#### Post date: [November 11, 2004, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-lost-in-translation/274224/6 "2004-11-11T19:06:06Z")
I am what am I, I do not want l’éloge, I do not want pity.
I strike my own drum; Some think c’est noise, I think qu’il is pretty.
And thus what if j’aime each spark and each bracelet?
Why not try to see things d’un different angle?
Your life is a pretence jusqu’à what you can shout outside,
I am what am I.
I am what am I; I am my own special creation,
thus taken come a glance - give me the hook or l ovation!
It’s my world which I want to have a little of pride inside;
My world, and it’s not a place which I must hide inside!
Your life is a pretence jusqu’à what you can shout outside,
I am what am I!
I am what am I, and what I am the needs aucunes excuses;
I m’occupe my own platform,
sometimes l’as, sometimes both.
C’est l’une life and it n’y has any return and any deposit;
During a life thus is to him time to d’ouvrir your cabinet.
Your life is a pretence jusqu’à what you can shout outside,
I am what am I!
---
### Author:  [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)
#### Post date: [November 11, 2004, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-lost-in-translation/274224/7 "2004-11-11T19:11:26Z")
Good-bye Norm Jean
Although I never knew him in all
You had the grace to be had
While those around you were dragged
They were dragged out of the craft in wood AND
they chuchichearon in the brain that put you in the wheel to walk AND
they caused changes him its name
And it seems to me you lived its life
As a candle in the never educated wind that to be adhered to
When the assembly of the rain in AND would have wanted him to
have known
But was barely a boy that Its candle melted long before Its legend did never
The solitude was hard
The hardest role you played never
Hollywood created to a superestrella AND
the pain was the price that you paid
Still when you died
Oh the press hounded still you
the roles had that to say
Was that María was found in the naked one
Good-bye Norm Jean
Of The youth in the second twentieth row
That you see you as something like more than sexual
More than barely our Monroe María
---
### Author:  [@LeeshaJoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LeeshaJoy)
#### Post date: [November 11, 2004, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-lost-in-translation/274224/8 "2004-11-11T19:12:09Z")
The translation service built into [Sherlock](http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/sherlock/) has a bunch of options, but the result becomes incomprehensible pretty quickly. I dare you to guess what song this used to be.
When the hell the nul simply the fact that between today you have
lived is imagined… does not try people everyone under us on us,
imagine that it is not the heaven which is easy with that
Killing with what it is not hard not to be, if or religion life
everything where excessively the people of peace have lived…
imagines that it is not the country which does not imagine in order to
die for the sake of
Me who am the person whom I dream some day the world where you
join us being made 1 means that it is not the only one I desire,
Necessity for avarice it is not possible or because the same
trade union of A of the person is yearned people everyone whether or
not… imagine that worldwide everything is shared, possession ones
which I think in doubt do not have to be imagined,
Me who am the person whom I dream some day the world where you
join us having lived as 1 means that it is not the only one I desire,
---
### Author:  [@Ghanima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ghanima)
#### Post date: [November 11, 2004, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-lost-in-translation/274224/9 "2004-11-11T19:16:15Z")
That would be John Lennon’s “Imagine” rendered completely nonsensical.
---
### Author:  [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)
#### Post date: [November 11, 2004, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-lost-in-translation/274224/10 "2004-11-11T19:16:51Z")
Strangely, most of “Drops of Jupiter” makes as much sense after being passed to Portuguese and back as it did beforehand:
Now that she’s back in the atmosphere With drops of jupiter in her hair, hey, hey She acts like summer and
walks like rain Reminds myself that there’s team I have change, hey, hey Since the return from her stay on the
moon She listens like spring and she talks like june, hey, hey
Tell myself did you sail across the sun Did you make it I have the milky way I have the lights all faded And
that heaven you go overrated
Tell me, did you fall will go to shooting star One without to permanent scar And did you beauty queen me while
you were looking at yourself out there
Now that she’s back from that soul vacation Tracing her way through the constellation, hey, hey She checks out
mozart while she you hurt tae-bo Reminds me that there’s team I have grow, hey, hey
Now that she’s back in the atmosphere I’m afraid that she might think of me the plain ol’ jane Told to story
about to man who you go too afraid I have fly I am he never did land
Tell myself did the wind sweep you off your feet Did you finally get the chance I have to dance along the
light of day And head back I have the milky way And tell me, did venus blow your mind Was it everything you
wanted I have find And did you beauty queen me while you were looking will go yourself out there
Can you imagines in the love, pride, deep-fried chicken Your best friend always sticking up will go you even
when I know you’re wrong Can you imagines in the first dance, freeze dried romance five-hour phone
Conversation The best soy latte that you ever had. . . and me
Tell myself did the wind sweep you off your feet Did you finally get the chance I have to dance along the light of day And head back toward the milky wayAgora that she’back of s in the atmosphere With drops of
júpiter in her hair, ei, ei acts as see and walks like rain Remembers-Me that there’time of s move, ei, ei since the return of her remainsas spring and she converses like June, ei, ei
It contains me fezê-read sail através of the fazeê-read Fezê-Read sun to the milky way of see the lights all wilted AND that heaven is sobrestimado
It contains me, fezê-read fall for a star cadente A without permanent scar AND did him lose me while you looked outside
Now that she’back of s of that her vacation of soul Drawing environment by the constelação, ei, ei verifies for outside mozart while does tae-bo Remembers-Me
that there’time of s grow, ei, ei
Now that she’back of s in the atmosphere I’m scared that power thinks of me as ol simple’ jane Counted an account about a man that is too scared fly then he never
landed
It contains the wind varreê-read did me outside his feet Did In The finally receives the possibility dance to the long one of the light by day AND back of head to
the milky way AND count me, did venus blow its mind Was he everything that you wanted to you found AND did to lose me while you were found outside
Be able to-the imagine no love, pride, frango fried His better friend always supports you even when I the knowledge’re wrong Is able to Him imagine no first dances,
congelação Converses secada of fone of five-hour of romance THE best latte of soy that you had never. one one. . . and me
It contains the wind varreê-read did me outside his feet Did In The finally receives the possibility dance to the long one of the light by day AND back of head
in direction to the milky way
---
### Author:  [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)
#### Post date: [November 11, 2004, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-lost-in-translation/274224/11 "2004-11-11T20:27:12Z")
What is the question with the clothes that I carry? “Can you not you tell that your of tie the too wide”? Would perhaps I have to buy some old label collars? "You welcome back to the age of jive.
Where have you from recently, honig hidden? You cannot dress gives worthless till you many money from". The everybody that proud burst the new sound Funny, but it is still rock-'n-roll to me
What is the question with the car that I ride? “Can you not you tell that it from style are”? Would I have to get a set of meanwhile wall ties? Are "you rides gonna the wondrous mile around?
These days you cannot were be too sentimental Your best one baby of chance blue Continental". The hot fear not off, cools punker, even when the old troop is that It still rock-'n-roll to me
Is
Oh, it is not say Causes is been of interest what they in the paper 'him always the same old scene. There is a new tie in city, But you cannot get the sound of a story in
a periodical.
Directed on your average teen-ager How over an as well rosy sidewinders As a clear oranjekleurig pair panting? "You will real a Chivalrous Brummel baby can be
When you only at one half chance give.
You do not waste your money on a new set of speakers, getting YOU more benzineverbruik per mile of a cheap even sneakers". The next phase, new wave, you dance Is craze, in every case It still rock-'n-roll to me
What is the question with the crowd that I see? Do “you know that they from contact its not”? Would I have to try a straight ‘A’ student to be? "When you then are you think also many.
Do you not know over the new fashion honig? You all need count its look and a whole lotta". It is, dances Is the next phase, new wave, craze, in every case It still rock-'n-roll to me
The everybody that proud burst the new sound Funny, but it is still rock-'n-roll to me
---
### Author:  [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)
#### Post date: [November 11, 2004, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-lost-in-translation/274224/12 "2004-11-11T20:38:53Z")
> [@Cluricaun](#):
>
> What is the question with the clothes that I carry? “Can you not you tell that your of tie the too wide”? Would perhaps I have to buy some old label collars? "You welcome back to the age of jive.
>
> Where have you from recently, honig hidden? You cannot dress gives worthless till you many money from". The everybody that proud burst the new sound Funny, but it is still rock-'n-roll to me
>
> What is the question with the car that I ride? “Can you not you tell that it from style are”? Would I have to get a set of meanwhile wall ties? Are "you rides gonna the wondrous mile around?
>
> These days you cannot were be too sentimental Your best one baby of chance blue Continental". The hot fear not off, cools punker, even when the old troop is that It still rock-'n-roll to me
> Is
>
> Oh, it is not say Causes is been of interest what they in the paper 'him always the same old scene. There is a new tie in city, But you cannot get the sound of a story in
> a periodical.
>
> Directed on your average teen-ager How over an as well rosy sidewinders As a clear oranjekleurig pair panting? "You will real a Chivalrous Brummel baby can be
> When you only at one half chance give.
>
> You do not waste your money on a new set of speakers, getting YOU more benzineverbruik per mile of a cheap even sneakers". The next phase, new wave, you dance Is craze, in every case It still rock-'n-roll to me
>
> What is the question with the crowd that I see? Do “you know that they from contact its not”? Would I have to try a straight ‘A’ student to be? "When you then are you think also many.
>
> Do you not know over the new fashion honig? You all need count its look and a whole lotta". It is, dances Is the next phase, new wave, craze, in every case It still rock-'n-roll to me
>
> The everybody that proud burst the new sound Funny, but it is still rock-'n-roll to me
“Still Rock and Roll to Me” with at least one pass through a Dutch translator.
---
### Author:  [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)
#### Post date: [November 11, 2004, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-lost-in-translation/274224/13 "2004-11-11T21:01:49Z")
Oh, say the can that you see, by the light of the first dawn, That so proudly we hailed to the last gleaming of the twilight? Of which them scratch it wide and brilliant stars, by the perilous fight, ON the walls that we looked at, therefore to flow were gallamment? And the red brightness of the rockets, the bombs bursting in the air, Given the proof by the night that our flag was again there. O says, that the cheek banner the principal róle nevertheless vague spangled ON the earth of the free one and the house of the courageous one?
On the shore, weakly seen by the mists of the deep one, Where the host of the haughty enemy in dreads the silence rests, which is that that the breeze, on the towering soaks, As it irregularly blows, conceals now, unveils now? Now it
catches the glimmer of the first ray in the morning, In full reflected glory shines now on the stream: « THIS IS the étoile-spangled banner! O can it a long time ripples ON the earth of the free one and the house of the courageous
one.
And where this band that is to praise swore if That the war ravaging and the confusion of the fight A house and a country we must leave non more? Their blood eliminated their pollution of the step dégoutante. No refuge could save lacquered it and the slave Of the flight terror, or the obscurity of the grave: And the
étoile-spangled banner in the wave of triumph doth ON the earth of the free one and the house of the courageous one.
Oh! thus the being never, when freemen will hold itself Between their liked houses and the desolation of the war! Happy with the victory and peace, be able the earth sky helped Rents the Strength that this hath did and we preserved a nation. Then conquer have us, for our cause it is just, And this is our motto: « In God is our confidence. » And the étoile-spangled banner will ripple forever ON the earth of the free one and the house of the courageous one!
---
### Author:  [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)
#### Post date: [November 11, 2004, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-lost-in-translation/274224/14 "2004-11-11T22:36:58Z")
Oo! Avril Lavigne… (English-German-English)
He was a boy, who was it a girl,
Can I it him more obviously
form was a Punk
her ballet did,
what more I can say
the fact that he wished her but would never explain her
that secretly she wished him in addition.
But all their friends, clung up their nose
had it a problem with its bag-like clothes
I like the “clung up their nose” bit.
---
### Author:  [@buns3000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buns3000)
#### Post date: [November 11, 2004, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-lost-in-translation/274224/15 "2004-11-11T23:39:56Z")
_God Only Knows_, Beach Boys:
I always cannot like you but also a long time as there is stars above you never have yourself need to doubt it I you so sure fact of him God only knows as I
would be without you
If you never must leave for me well I would always do goes on to believe the world could not show me nothing so good which would it do to live me done God knows only that I would be without you
---
### Author:  [@Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bambi_Hassenpfeffer)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2004, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-lost-in-translation/274224/16 "2004-11-12T00:09:46Z")
This started as a Spanish song, by Shakira, called “No Creo”. Spanish - English - German - English - Italian - English:
> [@](#):
>
> Only sapete well, which they are and for this reason he it my heart. Only double medium reason and for this reason also, to which the wished ones, you gone. Creed that the sea of a daily paper loses the sapore of does not know them. Still not creed in mines. Not creed in the probability. Creed only in your blue smile and your point of view crystal-flown them, to which it kisses, than gives to me and to all that you say. If I speak too much, you vacation of the side and that one never that however do not become you love, therefore like the I. Only sapete well, which they are and for this reason he it my heart. Only double medium reason and for this reason also, to which the wished ones, you gone. Still not creed in Venus in Mars. Not creed in Marx of the Carl. Not creed in Jean Jean-Jean-Paul Sartre. Not creed in the white man of Brian. Creed only in your blue smile and your point of view crystal-flown them, in which it kisses, than speaks it to give and, than what I speak. Only sapete well, which they are and for this reason he it my heart. Only double medium reason and for this reason also, to which the wished ones, you gone. If I speak too much, you vacation of the side and that one never that however do not become you love, therefore like the I. I would appreciate always Ay it firmament, the relative opening one song, your relative wings to relative the wind. Their lump of knows them, of jet of sun and also, where you say that wished that I go I, goes. They are desliz of the mine, my fortunate country, my motivating force, my scales to the sky and for this reason follow and the sense with you here. The decirte could not never that not. Only sapete well, which they are and for this reason he it my heart. Only double medium reason and for this reason also, to which the wished ones, you gone. Their lump of knows them, of jet of sun and also, where you say that wished that I go I, goes. They are desliz of the mine, my fortunate country, my motivating force, my scales to the sky, if I they speak too much, you not vacation of the side and that one never that however transformano in in love to you, therefore like the I.
The original is [here](http://www.loglar.com/song.php?id=2307). It isn’t even necessary to understand the original to see how far automated translation has to go. Damn funny though. “Honey, you’re my motivating force, my scales to the sky, and if they speak to much, you not vacation from the side.”
---
### Author:  [@buns3000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buns3000)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2004, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-lost-in-translation/274224/17 "2004-11-12T02:49:37Z")
“Like
To Excite and new
Came on board
Of let us foresee us that you
The love Boat will do soon another chases
The love Boat promises something for everyone…”
---
### Author:  [@buns3000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buns3000)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2004, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-lost-in-translation/274224/18 "2004-11-12T02:57:22Z")
OK, just one more…
"Is here the history of a lady charming that brought in top three girls very charming. The all had hair of now, as their mother, The youngest one the one in the buckles.
Is here the store, of a man named Brady, that was occupied with three boys to him, They were four men, inhabitant all body, Nevertheless they were all alone.
Until the one day when the lady met this friend And they knew it was a lot more than a premonition, Than this group would form of a manner or of another a family. That is the manner we all became the Package of Brady. The Package of Brady,
That is the manner we all became the Package of Brady. The Package of Brady."
---
### Author:  [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2004, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-lost-in-translation/274224/19 "2004-11-12T03:00:11Z")
“Dancing Queen” (English-Italian-English)
The night of friday and the lights are to observe low outside for the place in order to go
where they play just music, obtaining nell’oscillazione that entered to try a king someone could be
that the night of the type is young and the music?s high with po’di a music of the cliff, all it is nell’umore fine You?re for a dance and when you obtain the chance… You are the dancing, young Queen and sweet, single dancing Queen seventeen,
thinks the beat dal tambourine that
you can dance, you can jive, having the period della your life
sees that girl,
vigilance that scene,
vangata nella dancing Queen
---
### Author:  [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2004, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-lost-in-translation/274224/20 "2004-11-12T03:18:56Z")
Iggy Pop’s “I Wanna Be Your Dog” in English to German to English:
> [@](#):
>
> So has in confusion, I wants to want are is brought you closely in my room I you here now we gonna face to stand in opposition and I become to the right in my
> favorite plotted down put
>
> Now I am is is wanna your dog now I wanna your dog now I wanna your dog goods, arise!
>
> Now I am ready to close my eyes now I, am ready to close my mind now I, am ready to feel the hand, to lose my heart in the burning sand
>
> Now I am is is wanna your dog now I wanna your dog now I wanna your dog goods, arise!
I can kinda see Rammstein doing it.
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